Curcumin: A multifaceted herbal medicine

Abstract

Curcumin, is a phenolic compounds isolated from the roots of Curcuma longa (Zingiberaceae), exhibit a variety of beneficial effects on health and on events that help in preventing certain diseases. These plant-derived chemicals have generated considerable interest recently for their potential to show great variety of pharmacological activities such as anti-inflammation, antioxidant, neuro protection, anti-cancer etc by modulation of several important molecular targets including transcription factors, cytokines, cell cycle proteins etc. As a result of extensive epidemiological, clinical, and animal studies, several molecular mechanisms are developed that elucidate multiple biological effects of curcumin. The purpose of this review is to provide a brief summary for research awareness of the effects of curcumin on the subject of potential health benefits.